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200+ Atomic Grog Cocktail Recipes, A through Z         The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide and 100+ recipes

NEW: Appleton master blender Joy Spence to host rare rum tasting at The Mai-Kai
Joy Spence, The master blender of Appleton Estate in Jamaica, will lead an exclusive tasting of her acclaimed rums at The Mai-Kai on Wednesday, Aug. 14. The sold-out event is the first-ever official appearance at the historic Fort Lauderdale restaurant by the pioneering Spence, the first woman to hold the position of master blender in the spirits industry.

UPDATED: The Tiki Times: Exclusive event guide
Are you ready for the heart of the summer season? Check out our continually updated list of all the major happenings:
Surf Guitar 101, Tiki Oasis, Hi-Tide Summer Holiday: Asbury Park, plus lots more!
Also, take a look back at the photos and video from the year's top events so far.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LATEST EVENTS

The Atomic Grog presents new class and symposium at The Hukilau 2019

Hurricane Hayward of The Atomic Grog took guests on an virtual journey to the Caribbean to learn about the key rums and styles that have dominated The Mai-Kai’s acclaimed cocktails for more than 60 years. He was joined by rum expert Stephen Remsberg for an Okole Maluna Cocktail Academy class at Pier Sixty-Six hotel on June 8, and by Cocktail Wonk writer Matt Pietrek for an on-stage symposium at The Mai-Kai Grand Finale on June 9.
NEW: Hear Sunday's symposium on the Inside the Desert Oasis Room podcast
See the full preview plus last year's event recap and photos | Full 2019 recap coming soon!
* Get detailed reports and photos on Tiki Central

COMING SOON: Exclusive news on a new replacement for Kohala Bay rum at The Mai-Kai, plus more!
More on the rums of The Mai-Kai
* The history of the potent, funky flavors from Guyana and Jamaica
* Demerara rum - The Mai-Kai's secret weapon

The Hukilau 2019 rewind: Photos and video from social media

Like the daily thunderstorms that didn't seem to dampen anybody's spirits, The Hukilau careened through Fort Lauderdale on June 5-9 for its 18th annual Tiki weekender with an exhaustive schedule of events at the Pier Sixty-Six Hotel, B Ocean Resort and the historic Mai-Kai restaurant. Here's a quick look back at all the fun via social media posts.
>>>> SOCIAL POSTS FROM THE ATOMIC GROG AND VILLAGERS
LISTEN: Stream our Spotify playlist to hear all the music

The Hukilau 2019: Women of Tiki take over the tower

Thursday, June 6, was tropical cocktail heaven during the opening festivities of The Hukilau at Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina in Fort Lauderdale. The signature Tiki Tower Takeover cocktail party included eight of the world's top female Tiki bartenders. Between sampling all the delicious drinks, hanging out with friends and enjoying the gorgeous views from the 17th-floor Pier Top Lounge, we managed to snap a few photos. Coming soon, a blog recap featuring more photos plus cocktail reviews and ratings.
>>>> CLICK HERE FOR THE FACEBOOK PHOTO GALLERY
Tiki Tower Takeover: Preview, photos and complete history
More on The Hukilau: Last party at Pier Sixty-Six? | Final preview, updates

The Mai-Kai Walking Tour on Marooned: A Texas Tiki Podcast
It was an honor to participate in The Mai-Kai history tour with carver Will Anders and manager Kern Mattei. It’s a real Tiki museum audio walking tour. CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE PODCAST
The podcast is also available on all major podcasting platforms: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
Previous podcast: Hurricane Hayward talks Mai-Kai cocktails with Marooned
Related stories on The Atomic Grog
* The Mai-Kai is here to stay: 10 reasons why we love the historic South Fla. restaurant
* New giant carved Tiki added to The Mai-Kai’s outdoor garden for 60th anniversary
* 'King Kai' leads procession of new Tikis into The Mai-Kai
* Tour of The Mai-Kai's mysterious bars and kitchen (with photos)

Atomic Grog Cocktail Recipes, A through Z
When The Atomic Grog launched in late April of 2011, the second post was a Tiki cocktail recipe. Now, more than 400 posts and 200 recipes later, we've put all those drinks into an alphabetical list for easy access as a treat to all of you who've supported the blog for the past eight years. CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE RECIPES
INTRO & MAHALOS: Recipe list marks eighth anniversary of blog

Drink like a native with the deadly Shrunken Skull
A deep dive into the history of a deadly classic cocktail
The Mai-Kai cocktail review: Fully enhanced with a brand new tribute recipe and the true ancestor recipe from Don the Beachcomber. Includes rich detail including info on all the mugs, the potent rums and the story behind those real shrunken skulls on display in one of the The Mai-Kai's secluded dining rooms. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY

The Hukilau 2019: Tiki Tower Takeover cocktail party sold out - Preview, photos and complete history
For the fifth year in a row, the signature event at The Hukilau has sold out months in advance. The Tiki Tower Takeover, held every June in the 17th floor rooftop ballroom at Pier Sixty-Six in Fort Lauderdale, will have added significance in 2019. The festive cocktail party that spotlights some of the world’s top Tiki bartenders will celebrate Women Who Tiki with eight female mixologists serving their own special creations. With the hotel closing for a massive refurbishment immediately after The Hukilau, it will also be the last Takeover in the tower for at least two years. >>>> Preview and bartender profiles
Plus more special features:
• History: Event recaps and photos, 2015-2017
• Photos: Recap and new images from last year’s Tiki Tower Takeover
• Recipe: Cotton Mouth Killer from Trailer Happiness

Event spotlight: Arizona Tiki Oasis brings Polynesian Pop party to the desert
Arizona Tiki Oasis featured all the hallmarks of the original event in a mid-century desert setting,
from a vintage hotel to some of the biggest names in the Tiki revival. >>>> Atomic Grog preview and social recap

DICK DALE, 1937-2019
The rock 'n' roll legend dubbed 'King of the Surf Guitar' has died at age 81

The Atomic Grog and Slammie Productions had the pleasure of booking and promoting six of Dick Dale's South Florida concerts over the last decade of his career. It was truly an honor. He will be missed.
Here's are links to all of our stories, including exclusive photos and a rare interview:
* Dick Dale: The most interesting man in rock ‘n’ roll
Exclusive interview, photos: Cancer survivor and rock legend Dick Dale: 'I had both feet in the grave'
* A Dick Dale concert is always the best way to celebrate another year of The Atomic Grog
Concert review, photos: Dick Dale's comeback revs into overdrive
* South Florida welcomes Dick Dale, but when will the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
* Nothing can stop surf guitar king Dick Dale
* The Atomic Grog celebrates first anniversary with the return of Dick Dale
Concert review, photos: Dick Dale shreds all doubts with sizzling shows
* Dick Dale, playing the tour of his life, hits South Florida
* What makes Dick Dale the 'King of the Surf Guitar'?
* Dick Dale's 2011 tour was seven years in the making

New cocktail books, magazine prove Tiki underground is alive and thriving

This year marks the publication of several new cocktail books along with continuing releases of a new quarterly magazine devoted to the revival of Polynesian Pop and mid-century culture. Who says social media and the Internet have killed off the printed word?
Bonus cocktail recipe: Lost Treasure by Syd Thomas of Tonga Hut

Surprise winner, new spirit of aloha at fifth annual Art of Tiki in South Beach

Find out how an unassuming chef beat out Miami's top mixologists in the South Beach Wine & Food Festival's tropical bartending competition. >>> Check out our review of the event and all the cocktails, plus exclusive photos and history of the event.
Photos, bonus recipe: Blue Bayou, served by Brian Miller at the 2019 SoBeWFF

100 Days to The Hukilau: Weekend events at The Mai-Kai to feature The Surfrajettes, preview party

The 18th annual Tiki weekender known as The Hukilau will not invade Fort Lauderdale until June, but local Tikiphiles got an early taste of the rum-fueled festivities March 2-3 when two special events kicked off the 2019 countdown at The Mai-Kai.
* Event preview of both events, plus video of The Surfrajettes at The Hukilau 2017

PHOTOS: VIPs, connoisseurs of fine spirits flock to first Miami Rum Congress

The inaugural Miami Rum Congress was an unqualified success, a star-studded gathering of rum industry experts that sold out the cozy and picturesque Shane Center in Miami Beach. >>> Photo gallery and event recap
* Atomic Grog preview and social recap

Inuhele celebrates Atlanta’s meteoric rise as Tiki destination
Now, in just its second year, the Tiki weekender known as Inuhele greatly expanded to include three days of bar-hopping, panels, vendors, bands, demos and more geared to the area's burgeoning scene. >>> Full preview and live coverage
Cocktail recipe: Makani Pahili by Skipper Mickey of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, one of the Iron TikiTender competitors at Inuhele

Special event: 'Demerara Rum - The Mai-Kai's Secret Weapon'
The Atomic Grog was pleased to present a special happy-hour talk during The Mai-Kai Takeover event
on Jan. 19, presented by the Magical Tiki Meet-Up and Retro Rekindled.
Click here to check out our full event recap, including photos and highlights of our Demerara rum discussion.
See also: Rums of The Mai-Kai include potent, funky flavors from Guyana and Jamaica

Epcot's Native American art exhibit includes Hawaiian and Polynesian artifacts
The Hawaii and California display spotlights one of seven geographic regions of Native American art,
both historical and modern, in the American Heritage Gallery.

A cure for your holiday hangover: All the Miracle pop-up cocktails, reviewed and ranked
Check out our reviews and rankings of all the drinks on the 2018 Miracle menu
Nobody has perfected the Christmas pop-up concept quite like Miracle, from the decor to the music to the food - all spearheaded by each individual location under the guidance of Cocktail Kingdom. For 39 days, Miracle on Rosemary and Miracle on Delray Beach from Death Or Glory served up delicious craft cocktails that feature obscure, esoteric ingredients but also don't take themselves too seriously and appeal to a broad audience.
Previous story: Festive ‘Miracle’ pop-up bar expands in South Florida, worldwide
COCKTAIL RECIPE: Secret Santa Flip is festive fun any time of year
NEW: More Miracle and Sippin' Santa pop-up bars coming to South Florida in 2019

The Year in Tiki 2018: Recap all the top events with photos and video
Which events did you attend in 2018? Take a look back at the top happenings in the Tiki, rum and surf music worlds: Modernism Week, Inuhele: Atlanta Tiki Homebar Tour, Chicago Rum Festival, Viva Las Vegas, Tiki Caliente, The Hukilau, Rum Renaissance Festival, Surfer Joe Summer Festival, Ohana: Luau At The Lake, Tiki Kon, Tales of the Cocktail, Surf Guitar 101 Convention, Tiki Oasis, The Hula Hop, Asbury Park Surf Music Festival, Huka Pele Tiki Weekender, California Rum Festival, Makahiki: A Night of Tiki, New York Rum Festival, Circa Caliente, Malihini Tiki Festival, The UK RumFest, plus many more!

Florida bartender wins Chairman's Reserve Mai Tai Challenge at The Mai-Kai, earns trip to St. Lucia
UPDATE: Bartender Gregory Schutt pulled off an upset victory on Oct. 30 in the regional finals
of the Chairman’s Reserve Mai Tai Challenge, edging several fellow Floridians and seasoned competitors
from cocktail hotbeds New Orleans and Chicago to earn a trip to the global finals in St. Lucia in 2019.
New Atomic Grog Mai Tai recipes: Oh Mai Darling | Atomic Mai Tai Cocktail

Hulaween 2018: Back from the Dead - 10th Anniversary Reunion
On Oct. 26, The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale was overrun by a lively crowd of undead revelers who returned
from the grave for a 10th time in search of a rockin' good time with Slip and the Spinouts.
Photos on Facebook: The Atomic Grog's gallery | The Mai-Kai's gallery

The Atomic Grog on Marooned: A Texas Tiki Podcast
Listen to Hurricane Hayward and Texas Tiki and cocktail podcaster David Phantomatic in the Samoa Room at The Mai-Kai as they discuss (what else) the historic tropical drinks and influence of South Florida's Polynesian Palace.
* Check out the new tribute recipes for a Mai-Kai classic, the Mutiny

Okole Maluna Cocktail Academy: How to Mix Like The Mai-Kai
Tips and techniques from Hurricane Hayward of The Atomic Grog for turning your home bar into a Tiki cocktail paradise. Check out highlights from the sold-out class at The Hukilau 2018. Photo galleries: Facebook | Flickr
Updated reviews, recipes Big Bamboo | Bora Bora | K.O. Cooler | S.O.S.

The Hukilau 2018 recap: Photos and video from social media

Check out a compilation of images from the whirlwind Tiki weekend in Fort Lauderdale

Photos: The Mai-Kai updates bar menu, adds classic ‘lost’ cocktail

A new cocktail menu made its debut on May 17 in The Molokai bar at The Mai-Kai,
marking first update to the classic tropical drink lineup since 2014.
The Okole Maluna Society: The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide
Suffering Bastard tribute | See all 100+ recipes
Rums of The Mai-Kai include potent, funky flavors from Guyana and Jamaica

New monorail fleet in the works? Disney World denies rumors

Disney World should soon be getting replacements for its aging fleet of monorails,
says the retired imagineer who designed the original iconic trains for Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.
But officially, theme park officials say there presently are no such plans.